Shire plc recently announced the results of the National Eye C.A.R.E. (Current Attitudes Related to Eye Health) Survey, which found nearly seven in 10 adults with dry eye feel their symptoms are just something they have to live with, and almost nine out of 10 ECPs believe a multi-screen lifestyle is responsible for a rise in dry eye disease.
Conducted online by Harris Poll in July 2015 on behalf of Shire, the survey included more than 1,200 adults with dry eye symptoms. More than half of those surveyed believe that screens are the primary cause of their dry eye, and most (79 percent) admit they feel more aware of "feeling their eyes" after using a screen.
When it comes to dry eye impacting their daily life, 54 percent surveyed said dry eye symptoms had an impact on their job/career or ability to work, and 43 percent reported their dry eye symptoms often kept them from what they wanted to do.
As for getting help for their dry eye symptoms, adults surveyed typically waited two years between symptom onset and seeking the advice of a healthcare provider. About half of those surveyed dismissed their symptoms as a normal part of aging, and 32 percent do not understand there is a potential for long-term damage to their eyes. Three in five adults with dry eye symptoms (57 percent) stated they wishes they had spoken to an ECP sooner.
And among the 1,000 optometrists and ophthalmologists also surveyed, 76 percent reported an increase in patients with dry eye symptoms between the ages of 18 to 34 compared to 10 years ago. Nearly nine in 10 (87 percent) believe there is no one typical type of dry eye patient in today's world, and eight in 10 ECPs believe dry eye disease is underdiagnosed.
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